Retirement, travel and a well-deserved break beckon, but ever the passionate advocate for preventative health education for children, Michael will remain on the Board of Life Ed Queensland for the foreseeable future.
Michael joined Life Ed Queensland in 2006 and is widely credited with steering the charity from a position of financial uncertainty into a thriving, impactful organisation that now reaches around 180,000 children annually with vital education around health, safety and wellbeing.
On the eve of his departure, Michael shared some of the highlights from an incredible career in the not-for-profit sector.
Michael began his career in the banking sector but a desire to make a difference in the lives of young people led him to World Vision. In New South Wales, Michael managed World Vision’s 40 Hour Famine, developing their global youth leadership conventions which have inspired thousands of young Australians to make a difference to global poverty.
He relocated with his young family to Queensland in 1997 to take on the role of Queensland State Manager for World Vision and later became National Operations Manager.
A career highlight was being named finalist in the 2006 Queensland Australian of the Year Awards, in recognition of his contribution to the alleviation of global poverty.
That same year, Michael became CEO of Life Ed Queensland – now the state’s largest non-government provider of health and wellbeing education for children, reaching almost 800 primary schools and preschools across Queensland.
“Although I was excited by the mission, there were many challenges ahead,” Michael reflects. “When I first started, we were a small team running on the proverbial oily rag. It was a month-to-month struggle just to keep going, but even then, we were reaching over 100,000 children each year. The first few years were really about survival and steadying the ship.”
Under Michael’s leadership, Life Ed Queensland grew from a team of 12, to more than 50 staff, while continually adapting to meet the evolving needs of children and schools.
“The program today is unrecognisable compared to when I joined,” Michael says. “Technology and social media have transformed children’s lives, and our education needs to evolve just as quickly.
“Bullying, violence, anxiety and depression are huge challenges, all of which are heightened because of social media. That’s why we’ve expanded our focus to include digital citizenship, respectful relationships, consent and mental wellbeing.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Life Ed Queensland quickly pivoted to online delivery, ensuring that children – even in the most remote areas – could still access important lessons about health, safety and cybersafety.
Life Ed Queensland also introduced new resources for families, including a parent podcast which featured expert advice on navigating modern parenting challenges.
“I’m immensely proud of our team’s flexibility and commitment during that time,” Michael says. “They stayed positive and kept the mission alive when it mattered most.”
Michael has also been a tireless advocate for sustainable funding and community partnerships.
“Only 20 per cent of our funding comes from government, so we’ve had to work hard to build strong community and philanthropic support. I’m incredibly grateful to the thousands of Queenslanders who continue to back our work.”
Among Michael’s proudest achievements is building a strong foundation of purpose, people and programs.
“We’ve created programs that reflect the real challenges children face today,” he says. “Programs like Talk About It – Queensland’s largest relationships and sexuality education program, which has reached nearly 400,000 students – and our latest bullying prevention initiative Stand Up for Respect.”
Bullying remains an epidemic in Australian schools, with growing evidence of its lasting impact on children’s mental health and safety. Life Ed Queensland is responding with bold innovation – launching the Stand Up for Respect program to foster a culture of inclusion, empathy and respect in classrooms.
Following a successful first-phase pilot, Stand Up for Respect will enter its second phase in 2025, embedding a whole-of-school approach to bullying prevention across more Queensland schools.
“It really does take a village to raise a child,” Michael says. “But in today’s digital world, that village is under pressure. Technology can unite, but it can also isolate – leading to loneliness and despair, especially for children. Programs like Stand Up for Respect are more important than ever to help kids feel seen, supported and safe.”
Michael’s role as both a leader and a parent has shaped his deep belief in the organisation’s mission.
“I have two amazing daughters who were in primary school when I joined Life Ed. Now in their twenties, they’ve grown into resilient, caring adults – and I know how vital it is that all children are given the same chance to thrive.”
Michael says he’s deeply grateful for the support of the Life Ed team, Board, school partners, ambassadors and the broader community.
“It has been an immense privilege to lead Life Ed Queensland for 19 years. Contributing to the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of children has meant everything to me.”
Though stepping down as CEO, Michael’s journey with Life Ed is far from over – he will continue to contribute as a member of the Board.
“I’m excited to see what the future holds. We have a passionate, capable team and I believe Life Ed Queensland is poised to make an even bigger impact in the years to come.”
